Some questions: ponchos and Autograph books...

[griz4]

Trip is 6 weeks away for us first timers to Disney. Have a couple of questions.

1. Autograph Books- where does one find them other than at Disneyworld. I have been to Disney store, Target, Barnes and noble and nobody seems to sell them. Would like to purchase ahead of time for my daughters rather than buy at park.

2. Ponchos- we are going in July, do we need to get good durable ponchos if we went to stay dry during the summer thunderstorms or do those .99 cent models you find in camping section at Walmart or Target work just fine.

3. Travelers Cheques- can you cash in these at the hotel lobby for cash (we are staying at POFQ). i have the Birinbaum's book and in there it reads you can only cash Amex Traverler's cheques at the Suntrust by downtown disney. Anyone have experience with this at the hotel.

thanks.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

you can order autograph books from here:
http://www.disneysmilesstore.com/shop/ OR http://www.laughingplace.com/ OR you could make your own

We always use the .99 cent ponchos and toss them after we use them. The ones at Disney are expensive but better made. However, I find those things a huge pain to fold so I'd rather use the .99 cent ones and toss them after. That being said, we go during hurricane season and we've only used ponchos ONCE in 4 Sept trips. But we always have plenty just in case.

Travelers checks aren't really used anymore. I would attempt to find another way to carry money as a lot of places don't cash them (since most people don't carry them anymore). If you would like charging privs for your room, you are going to need a CC or debit.

 

[eversole]

We picked up ponchos at target and autographs books can also be purchased on ebay

 

[jbalinmass]

how many sets of panchos do you bring?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

i usually bring 3 per person. Again, if 4 years, we've used them a grand total of once but I would still rather have them than have to pay for Disney ones.

 

[Feralpeg]

You should have no trouble cashing travelers checks anywhere on WDW property. I see them used all the time.

 

[ZoZo]

Last October, I had a supply of the cheap ponchos, and ended up buying a WDW poncho because the cheap ones aren't sturdy enough for me. The cheap ones mold to your body when wet - the sturdier ones stand away from your body a little. Next trip, I plan to bring a nice Eddie Bauer poncho I got on clearance at Target - it was about $8 (the same price as WDW ponchos) but nicer than WDW ones.

Regarding travelers checks, I always use them. You can use them pretty much any place at WDW - restaurants, stores, etc. I get them in high denominations ($50 ones) and use them one at a time. They give you back the balance in cash, and I use that cash until I run out, then use another travelers check. I find it easier to use the high denomination ones - you don't have as many to carry around. Very easy to use. I know it's a bit "old fashioned" to use these, but I feel uncomfortable using my debit card (tied directly to my checking account - yikes!) when traveling, and prefer not to use a credit card. I do not stay at an official WDW hotel (we stay at Shades of Green), so cannot charge purchases to my room. To me, travelers checks work great! It makes it very easy to keep track of what you're spending, too!

 

[JulieNMM]

I live in California, where if it rains, it means it's the middle of winter and cold. Explain to me why I will need a poncho for summer rain? Isn't it going to be hotter than heck? And won't the rain feel good therefore? We're leaving next week!

Also, I bought those cheapy ponchos from Target for $1. Am I supposed to buy more than one per person? Are they only used once and then you toss them? I thought they could be used multiple times...

Thanks,
JULIE

 

[LuvMickey36]

I don't know how many of you have a Northern Tool in your area, but they sell pretty sturdy looking ponchos for $2.99. I have not tried one, as we have disney ponchos that we buy every few yrs. I just let them dry out, fold em up & reuse them.

 

[loco4dis]

I live in California, where if it rains, it means it's the middle of winter and cold. Explain to me why I will need a poncho for summer rain? Isn't it going to be hotter than heck? And won't the rain feel good therefore? We're leaving next week!

Also, I bought those cheapy ponchos from Target for $1. Am I supposed to buy more than one per person? Are they only used once and then you toss them? I thought they could be used multiple times...

Thanks,
JULIE

OK, when it rains in Florida, baby it RAINS. It might only last 5 or 10 minutes, but sometimes the sky opens and buckets pour down. You might get refreshed from the heat, but you will also be soaked from top to bottom. As for the cheap ponchos, they can be used multiple times, though they do tear easily. They also EXPAND when opened, so folding them up and carrying hem around can be a pain. I'm bringing 2 for each person on our June trip. Hopefully, we won't need them!

 

[JulieNMM]

OK, when it rains in Florida, baby it RAINS. It might only last 5 or 10 minutes, but sometimes the sky opens and buckets pour down. You might get refreshed from the heat, but you will also be soaked from top to bottom. As for the cheap ponchos, they can be used multiple times, though they do tear easily. They also EXPAND when opened, so folding them up and carrying hem around can be a pain. I'm bringing 2 for each person on our June trip. Hopefully, we won't need them!

Good to know! Thanks for the info!! The whole idea of rain in the summer is so weird to me!

JULIE

 

[DiznEeyore]

Just an FYI on the WDW ponchos .... if anyone in your party is allergic to latex, DON'T use them -- they contain latex!

Since I have a latex allergy, we always bring the cheapy plastic ones from the Dollar store. And after we use them, we toss them. Too much of a pain to try to fold them back up again.

 

[DLW8]

You can also get autograph books at your hotel when you check in (if you are checking in before heading to the parks). All the gift stores in the hotels carry them.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Good to know! Thanks for the info!! The whole idea of rain in the summer is so weird to me!

JULIE

Yes, you've never seen rain like this....it's insane! Again, probably only lasts a little while but it's like a monsoon. Last year we experienced our first REALLY bad rainstorm. We were riding the Magic Carpets and suddenly the heaven's opened. Luckily, I had DD's poncho in my Baggallini (which was on the ride with us) so she didn't get that wet. I didn't fair so well and neither did our stroller (in seconds, there was a puddle in the seat!). The park streets flooded in a matter of minutes. It rained for about 2 hours and we had to stay under cover at POTC (which DH and DD rode over and over again...but since I was soaked through, I froze when I tried riding it so I sat out for the repeat trips)!

 

[Bill_Lin]

Due to the frequency of heavy rain and winds in Orlando, I believe it is worth the investment to purchase non-disposable ponchos. You can pick them up at Wal-Mart for a very reasonable price. Do not buy the heavy ones. To be of any use, you will need to have them in your fanny pack, shoulder bag or pocket at all times. They won't do you any good in your car trunk.

Some friends of ours bought the thin disposable type and they did not stand up to the first storm when their kids wore them. For this reason, I don't think you should buy the really thin ones.

To find just the right thickness, I had to look through several sections of the sporting goods area. I found them in the hiking equipment. We were able to purchase matching colors. This way, we could quickly find each other in the crowds at the park. We even put large Disney stickers on the backs.

 

[JulieNMM]

What about just bringing an umbrella?

JULIE

 

[pakhowe]

Cleaning out my parents basement and what did I find? A brand new, still in the unopened package, Disney rain poncho from 1975! It had to be from then because that was the last time my parents went to Disney. When I was 7. I almost don't want to open it but my family (DH & DSx2) are going to WDW in August. I guess I'll bring it to use and buy extras from Walmart for the rest of the family.

 

[airhead]

...its perfect. These ponchos have worked great for us! None of us want to carry a big wet poncho around. So,we use it and toss it after the rain!

 

[jellybeans0607]

I live in California, where if it rains, it means it's the middle of winter and cold. Explain to me why I will need a poncho for summer rain? Isn't it going to be hotter than heck? And won't the rain feel good therefore? We're leaving next week!

Also, I bought those cheapy ponchos from Target for $1. Am I supposed to buy more than one per person? Are they only used once and then you toss them? I thought they could be used multiple times...

Thanks,
JULIE

actually as strange as it is, its not a refreshing rain at all. its almost always hotter after a rain and if you are soaked, you wont dry as quickly as you might think. the humidity in the air makes you sticky and gross.

 

[JoanieS]

Just an FYI on the WDW ponchos .... if anyone in your party is allergic to latex, DON'T use them -- they contain latex!

Since I have a latex allergy, we always bring the cheapy plastic ones from the Dollar store. And after we use them, we toss them. Too much of a pain to try to fold them back up again.

I have been picking up the cheapy ones at Target/Walmart, but I was considering the Disney ones - not now, as I am latex allergic!